Further to the earlier article, Thierry Henry's imminent signing was then predicted on the official site, followed by a press conference at the Arsenal training ground.

I'm writing the following snippets as the press conference happens (it's live on Sky Sports) so apologies for any minor transcription errors...

"I won't lie, at one point it crossed my mind [to leave]".

"I think with my heart and my heart told me to stay".

"The love that I have here and that I receive from my fans and even sometimes from non-Arsenal fans is not something I can forget about".

"The team showed me on wednesday that they have heart and a lot of quality".

He paid tribute to Arsene Wenger, David Dein ("I wanted to carry on writing the story of Arsenal with them"), as well as the Arsenal fans, saying that

"The love which the fans have showed me was more than amazing," and that the support of the fans on Wednesday during the game as well as their reaction to the loss was what helped convince him at that point that his future is at Arsenal.

Well done to all the travelling Gooners!

Asked whether Champions League football next year was critical to his decision, he pointed out that we're not even in it yet but will still have to play a qualifying round. He stressed, as he did throughout the months of speculation, that his delaying the decision was about wanting to concentrate on catching Tottenham.

"[England] is the best country to play football."

In response to questions as to whether winning the Champions League with Arsenal would have made a difference... (is it because there's unfinished business at Arsenal..?) Henry made the excellent retort that you might as well ask him if he'd have retired from football totally, having won everything there is to win in the game! He also said, "there is always unfinished business in football".

Some journo asked a ridiculous question about whether staying at Arsenal as opposed to moving to Barcelona or somewhere else showed a lack of ambition, which Henry treated with the disdain which it deserved!

David Dein admitted that losing Thierry Henry would have had a major impact on signing new players, and joked that there was small print in the contract committing Thierry to continuing to score 30 goals per season.

The new contract is for four more years, but the way Henry was talking, he clearly wants to stay for the rest of his career.

Fair play, for once, to Jose Mourinho, who has responded to the news by saying, "It is fantastic and I am very happy even though Arsenal will be stronger with him. English football must be very proud to have players like Thierry Henry playing in this country."